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Fall 2018

Samantha BurroughsInternship Site: Better business bureau

I picked the Washington Mentorship Program because I wanted to take advantage of the valuable internship opportunities in the DC area. I was a communications and public affairs intern at The Better Business Bureau where I was able to gain first-hand experience working in an office environment. By interning at the BBB, I was able to gain an understanding of how non-profit organizations operate while building strong relationships with my supervisors and coworkers which has helped me land additional internships and. This program has taught me the importance of internships while allowing me to begin building a strong resume. I am now majoring in accounting at the Kogod School of Business.

The Mentorship Program along with AU's campus and reputation was the reason I chose to attend. Out of all the schools I was choosing from AU gave me the best opportunities. During the program I worked for a congressman on Capitol Hill and gained a lot of work experience while slowly getting adjusted to college classes. Now I am continuing my studies in biology and environmental science and hoping to use my work experience to gain new internships and job opportunities.

Zachary GradisharInternship Site: Youth Leadership Foundation

I decided to come to AU and join the program because I thought it would provide me with valuable experience through an internship. After applying to several internships, I decided to work with a non-proft children's organization called "The Youth Leadership Foundation." During my time at YLF, I was able to create meaningful relationships and develop many professional skills. My internship made such a powerful impact on me that I decided to keep working there during my Spring semester. Looking back now, I am happy I decided to come to AU and join the program because it gave me the foundation I needed to have a sucessful transition into college.

I chose to be a part of the Washington Mentorship Program because I thought that having the opportunity to work and learn in a city like Washington, D.C. as a freshman was incredible. Neimand Collaborative focuses on using research, narrative, and strategy to create messaging that affects social change. With the skills I gained my first semester, I was able to land a second internship with the U.S. House of Representatives. On campus at AU I am involved with College Democrats and Phi Mu sorority.

Emily BrolinInternship Site: Washington National Cathedral

I picked AU because I really wanted to live in a city with a ton of history. I chose the mentorship program because I wanted to get ahead and start my college experience off with an internship already under my belt. I interned at the Washington National Cathedral as a secretary, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Now, I am a sophomore Musical Theatre major with a minor in Business and Entertainment and I couldn't be happier with my choice. I also made two of my best friends through the mentorship program. Go Eagles!

Fall 2017

Anne McKennaInternship Site: US Senate

I picked the AU Mentorship Program because I wanted to utilize the incredible internship opportunities at AU and in the DC area as quickly as possible. I interned for the US Senate, where I attended hearings and briefings for staff members, dealt with constituent communication and gave constituent tours of the US Capitol. I am currently a member of the College Democrats on campus, and will be interning for Let America Vote, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting voter suppression over the summer.

Darien Fiorinointernship site: smithsonian's natural history museum

I picked the AU Mentorship Program because I felt confident that I would be able to land an internship at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and I spent all summer networking to make obtaining an internship as easy as possible. I landed a production internship for a live web series, "Smithsonian Science How." Over the past few months, I have accrued responsibilities ranging from video editing, to directing, to script writing, to animating, to floor managing the live shows. In the near future, my mentor and I have discussed the possibility of a paid internship and potentially placing me in front of the camera. On campus, I am involved in AU Players, a student run theater company, and have participated in a few productions with them.

I picked this program because I wanted to study Political Science and saw this as an amazing opportunity. This program also gave me an advantage – achieving an internship my first semester of college. Working on Capitol Hill has given me valuable firsthand experience to carry through the rest of my career. I interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, and through this I was able to gain insight to how our political system actually works, and my experiences here have shaped what I want to study the remainder of college.

Haruka Satointernship site: Youth for understanding

I picked DC because of the location and AU, and specifically the Washington Mentorship Program because of the opportunity it gave me. Not only did I learn about the process of applying for internships, but I was able to learn what it was like to work in an office environment during my first year of college. With the program, I felt ahead with building my resume compared to my friends. This experience made me realize the importance of internships. I am now looking for opportunities in Taiwan and Japan for the summer.

Sophia Eltonintership site: Environmental protection agency

I enrolled in the Washington Mentorship Program because it gave me the opportunity to gain actual work experience in DC as a freshman in college, which is pretty remarkable. I interned at the Environmental Protection Agency and provided assistance in the Human Resources and Administration Division. Currently, I am studying to graduate with a degree in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG) and a minor in French. The Washington Mentorship Program provided me with the best experience I could have had during my first semester at AU.

Fall 2016

Sarah Levininternship site: smart electric power alliance

My name is Sarah Levin and I chose the Washington Mentorship Program because I liked the idea of a close knit community. In Mentorship, the students take classes together and I met my best friends in the program. Further, I attained networking skills that I used to get another internship. I am currently an digital marketing intern with SEPA Power and I am still on track to graduate in 2020. Moreover, I am a history major and a marketing minor and I am also the philanthropy chair of my sorority.

Xiaoqin (Sherry) Guiinternship site: STEMconnector

I decided to enroll in the Washington Mentorship Program in fall 2016 because it was a rare and great opportunity for a freshman to have an internship experience. I interned as a graphic designer at STEMconnector and gained lots of practical skills and got to know the industry before even starting to take major classes. Also because of Mentorship, I am familiar with the process of applying for internships or jobs and definitely more confident when applying for other internships later. Now I am trying to keep myself active around campus as well as work with different groups to improve myself.

Eli Hernandezinternship site: men's health network

Before coming to AU I wasn't sure about the Mentorship Program, I never heard about it before I opened my acceptance letter and I was skeptical, but as soon as I arrived at AU, I knew I made the right choice. Looking back now, I know the Mentorship Program truly fostered skills and characteristics which have been essential to my professional and personal development. It was honestly the best way to start college.